At what point is the tank to big?

[eartaker]

I currently have outgrown a 55G reef setup with HOB everything (skimmer, fuge, uv, phosphate reactor) and canister filter. I have been looking for a larger tank and converting over to a sump system. I hare found a few good deals local for 100-150G but recently found a nice 225G that needs some cleaning for cheaper than the 150g. I would love to take the 225G but I can see now that getting it up and running will be $$$$$ and I will need a larger everything. With money aside the the space the tank takes up, what would be the downfall of a large tank over a smaller one.

Thoughts on the situation?

 

[tyson256031]

Money is probably the bigger issue with large tanks, like you said, everything is bigger or you need more of each item. Maintenance is a big thing to think about as well. Everything you do now will be twice as much on a large system.

The plus side of a larger system is the water volume, The more water you have the easier it is to keep in balance IMO. This can also be an issue if you have a problem occur as it will take longer to fix.

Just like any tank, i would say do your research are im sure you system will turn out great! Cant wait to see a build thread.

 

[eartaker]

Yeah I do have some more planning to do and for the sake of money and maitinance I think I want to stay in the 125-150 range.

 

[trido]

At one point my 210 display with 500G total cost me nearly $200 a month in maintanance to keep running. Keep in mind, it was 500 gallons and spread out into five different tanks and WC's were big. At this point I would say it was set up poorly and cost me alot of extra money because of it. Regardless, large systems can get expensive. I look forward to the day I can set the 210 back up but will do things quite differently.

 

[1guydude]

I've never had anything bigger than my 75g dt and sump so imo if u can't afford upkeep than why bother. U can save up for filling it or certain items u need but if u can't afford the salt or the water and electricity bill....than its no use. Lol....

 

[Krish]

The bigger the tank, the more costly it will be to setup and maintain (water changes, salt etc). However, the bigger the tank, the more stability you have as things aren't as easily influenced. Bill (Billwann) has a 20,000 gal tank and wants to upgrade so I guess big isn't bad if you have the $$$$$

 

[user 26995]

I thought it out too and decided I could handle a 180. I asked myself, could I make and store enough water to do a major water change if I had to. I had to do one on my 75 once, because an anemone got caught up in a power head and fowled the tank. 6pm at night, no where to get RO/DI water, so I have to make sure I have enough on hand to do the water change if needed. I have a RO/DI unit that makes 100gals per day. And Brute containers for storing mixed saltwater. Thats something I would consider being a critical thing to be able to do in an emergency, or you could loose an entire tank of livestock.

 

[tyson256031]

My 300 total system, cost me about 200 a month as well, just to buy everything to set up was about 10K if not more. Not including livestock, I did get everything I could top of the line and you wouldn't have to but still its not cheap. I figured the better the equip the less I would have to touch the tank, and so far its working out as planned.

 

[returnofsid]

In my experience, I decided a tank was too big when I was out of wall space...lol. I COULD get rid of a couch, creating more space, but Angie won't let me.

 

[Krish]

In my experience, I decided a tank was too big when I was out of wall space...lol. I COULD get rid of a couch, creating more space, but Angie won't let me.

Guess we know who wears the pants in that house

 

[krisfal]

In my experience, I decided a tank was too big when I was out of wall space...lol. I COULD get rid of a couch, creating more space, but Angie won't let me.

Haha! For me too big was when I discovered the tank I had just custom ordered was 2" longer than the opening it was to slip into. Luckily I was able to change the order from 96" to 94" and had a 1/4" to spare!

 

[TJL]

I think that your over the the top when you read Bill's 20K build thread and say to yourself " I'd like something bigger cuz always wanted my own Reef and prefer not to have the word tank used in its description" :humble::shock:

Seriously though I'm with Michael, when you run out of wall/room space. My new system in early planning stages is based on room space and building a mechanical room under my house will/could be around the 450-625 gallon (84 x 42-48 x 30-36) Display in home and another 400-600g's of water underneath in the form of high capacity fuge and sumps. Having this 850-1200g system all plumbed into homes existing plumbing and in seasonally consistant temperatures in a semi below grade room should make for a very stable setup. Down side, BIG $'s and will force me out of temporary retirement earlier than wanted. Looking back to my past multiple larger tank setups though this one will be much more efficient/economical with the useage of LED's, lower power consumption pumps/powerheads and a temp stable mechanical room. This is my realistic Dream Tank yet will still enable me to daydream of having a 20K or larger system like Bill that would allow me to swim with my fishes, how frikin cool... I/we are still very jealous Bill....


Cheers, Todd

 

[mcoomer]

I don't know how much space you have for a tank and what your budget/employment situation is but I'd be willing to guess that the difference in cost to maintain a 150, 180 or 240 is probably not that great. Yes, your up front costs may be higher but if you've found a good deal on a used 225 vs what a smaller tank would cost that's money in the bank. Put that savings towards a used skimmer, pump, or lighting to support a larger tank. The classifieds on RF and other reef boards is a great place to find good used gear and if you're patient you can stretch a dollar a long way. Trust me on this. I had a 5' 125 and now have a 6' 180. I don't feel like I'm spending a lot more money than I was before but I feel like I've got a lot more tank than I did before.

BTW...quick tip to save money on any tank. Regular water changes, with a quality salt mixed to 1.026. Use smaller, regular water changes to maintain your water parameters and you won't find yourself spending money buying this additive, and that additive, and that one too trying to chase good water numbers. Your fish and corals will be happier too.

Mike

 

[pandora32]

Ok. So you have been informed of the operating cost...high...as well as the maintenance...alot...but I should also chime in with, dont forget to brace the floor if it isnt in a basement or sitting on concrete. I have a 215g with 40-45g going tbru the sump. I have it set up in the living room above my daylight basement. I braced under the floor with 4x6 beams with 4x4 between them. I had the wood so I coulxnt tell you how much that would cost. Me and my wife went from a 55g to this tank because we won it in a raffle. She says its big enough, I want bigger!!!! All in all, its a good size for the room its in, as well as the cost to run it. No complaints. jmho.

 

[mcoomer]

^^^ Definitely brace the floor, but again, you don't have to spend a ton of money doing it. I used 4X4s, adjustable brackets, and pyramid blocks to do mine. Got it all at HD and probably spent less than $60.

 

[returnofsid]

One other limitation that I've ALMOST ran into...

Measure your door openings! I'm in an older home, with narrow door openings. My 200DD barely fit through the door...lol. I had to build the stand in sections, outside, and then assemble the sections inside, as the stand will not fit through the door.

 

[user 26995]

I did the samething you did under my house. I set two sets of supports though.

I dont have as much room under my house. Only probably 2.5' of space to crawl around under there. I paid someone else to do it. I'm not going under there!

 

[Krish]

Do a lot of you guys have mainly wooden houses? Here in the Bahamas, law has it that basically everyone has to have a cement/concrete house (or atleast a concrete foundation). I guess being in a country that is high risk for hurricanes it's a must. Only a small few will have wooden exterior walls. The rest, concrete everything!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[tyson256031]

One other limitation that I've ALMOST ran into...

Measure your door openings! I'm in an older home, with narrow door openings. My 200DD barely fit through the door...lol. I had to build the stand in sections, outside, and then assemble the sections inside, as the stand will not fit through the door.

I had to do this as well, only i forgot to measure and and to remove my sliding glass door Long story short, Measure first LOL.... The crappy part is im moving soon and will need to do this 2 more times to get it out of the current house and back into the new house. FAIL on my part of the planning phase.

 

[tyson256031]

Do a lot of you guys have mainly wooden houses? Here in the Bahamas, law has it that basically everyone has to have a cement/concrete house (or atleast a concrete foundation). I guess being in a country that is high risk for hurricanes it's a must. Only a small few will have wooden exterior walls. The rest, concrete everything!


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Most houses are built from wood here, unless you have a custom cement or steel home. But most if not all are on cement foundations that i know of, unless you have a mobile home and in that case its most likely on bricks or a temp foundation.